IEF Lecture - OFID's Strategy Towards Universal Energy Access

IEF Secretary General, Dr Sun Xiansheng was honoured to receive Mr Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) at IEF Headquarters in Riyadh on 16 October 2016. During the course of a bilateral meeting with the IEF SG, Mr Al-Herbish discussed prospective collaboration with the IEF in the context of previous and ongoing joint efforts regarding energy access and the alleviation of energy poverty. Most recently at the IEF15 Ministerial in Algiers, OFID played a key role in the development and organisation of a Roundtable on "Sustainable energy access: a critical factor for human development", for which the Fund also contributed an insightful Ministerial background document.

Later the same day, Director-General Al-Herbish delivered an IEF lecture on OFID’s Strategy Towards Universal Energy Access to a distinguished audience of diplomats, and representatives from the energy, finance and industrial sectors, and IEF Secretary General, Dr Sun delivered a brief outline of the proceedings and outcome of the IEF15 Ministerial recently held in Algiers.

Mr Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish, a Saudi national, has been the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) since November 2003. He has been especially vocal on the issue of energy poverty alleviation, a cause he has championed tirelessly at the highest level and one that forms the central pillar of OFID’s strategic plan.

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) is the development finance institution established by the Member States of OPEC in 1976 as a collective channel of aid to the developing countries. OFID works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international donor community to stimulate economic growth and alleviate poverty in all disadvantaged regions of the world. It does this by providing financing to build essential infrastructure, strengthen social services delivery and promote productivity, competitiveness and trade. OFID’s work is people-centered, focusing on projects that meet basic needs - such as food, energy, clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education - with the aim of encouraging self-reliance and inspiring hope for the future.

A statement by Director-General Al-Herbish based on the topic of his lecture is available for download below.